Kyrie Irving, Brooklyn Nets. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving dropped 60 points and had one of the most productive first halves in recent NBA history on Tuesday against the Orlando Magic.
On Monday night, Karl-Anthony Towns scored 60 points in the Minnesota Timberwolves’ 149-139 win over the San Antonio Spurs. As for when would be the next time a player drops 60 points in a game, the answer was one day later.
Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving took the court and dropped 60 points of his own in the team’s 150-108 blowout win over the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night. But, Irving did make some history in the first half. This was a career-high for Irving and a Nets franchise-record.
Kyrie Irving drops 60 points, has historic first half
Irving scored 41 points in the first half before both teams departed for the locker room. That is the second-most points scored in the first half in the past 25 years. The only player to score more was Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, who recorded 42 points in the first half against the Washington Wizards on March 28, 2003. Bryant finished the game with 55 points.
That stat comes courtesy of the Associated Press’ Tim Reynolds.
On the night, Irving scored his 60 points while shooting 20-of-31 from the field, 8-for-12 from the three-point line and 12-of-13 from the free-throw line.
This is the first game that Irving played in since March 10, which was Brooklyn’s 129-100 road win over the Philadelphia 76ers. Irving is only allowed to play on road games due to New York City’s vaccination mandate.
And just like that Irving made it back-to-back nights where a player scored 60 points. The pressure is now on for players participating on Wednesday to make it three consecutive days.